Thread: 2 charged in illegal worker scheme

2 charged in illegal worker scheme
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two men who ran staffing services businesses in Pittsburgh have been indicted in federal court for harboring illegal workers.

Yaroslav Rochniak, 51, and Gregory Kucher, 62, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., and formerly of Pittsburgh, are charged in each of the 37 counts.

They operated Citiwide Management Group, which later changed its name to Citiwide MNGM Group; Bazil Services Inc.; and Monro Services.

According to the indictment, the men employed at least 100 "out-of-status" aliens from Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Lithuania, which means they entered the United States legally, but their visas had either expired or they were not permitted to work while here.

The men also allegedly set up housing for the aliens.

Other defendants are: Roman Kucher, 38, of Lakewood, Ohio; Alexander Litt, 44, of Miami; Roman Litt, 63, of Staten Island, and Yakov Shakhanov, 70, of Delray Beach, Fla.

Mr. Rochniak and Gregory Kucher's tax evasion charges stem from the failure to pay more than $1.4 million in federal income tax, the indictment said.

Arraignment is set for Dec. 22.

www.post-gazette.com

Sting targets Eastern European illegal immigration ring
By Jason Cato
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, December 11, 2008


Federal authorities Wednesday arrested six people, including two with Pittsburgh ties, on charges that they operated a network of staffing services with more than 100 illegal workers from Eastern Europe.

The suspects hired workers from Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Lithuania -- knowing their temporary visas had expired and assigned the workers to businesses in Pittsburgh, Monroeville and Ohio, prosecutors say. The defendants are accused of trying to hide the illegal workers' immigration status by providing housing, as well as transportation to and from work.

Gregory Kucher, 62, and Yaroslav Rochniak, 51, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., opened four companies associated with the network in Pittsburgh, according to a 37-count indictment unsealed Wednesday.

The four companies are Citiwide Management Group, Bazil Services, Citiwide MNGM Group and Monro Services. Prosecutors said the men once ran the businesses out of the Greentree Gardens apartment complex in Green Tree.

Authorities, though, did not identify the companies that used the workers. Prosecutors declined to say whether any of the foreign workers were arrested or will be deported.

From 1998 to 2006, prosecutors claim the staffing companies received $6.86 million for work performed by all employees, regardless of their immigration status. During that same period, the defendants' businesses paid $4.95 million in wages.

Kucher and Rochniak, also known as "Slava" or "Jerry," each face 17 counts of tax evasion. The government claims they owe $1.46 million in taxes from their Pittsburgh businesses.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell released Kucher on $50,000 bond after the defendant's wife turned over his passport to officials in New York. A federal agent commented that it was Kucher's lucky day as she removed his handcuffs.

"It's my lucky day?" Kucher responded. "I'm in shackles."

Mitchell agreed to let Kucher live in Brooklyn and return to Western Pennsylvania for court and business matters.

"The problem lies in the carrying on of the business. We don't believe it is a legitimate business," Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Picking said. "He needs to be out of the illegal-alien business."

Also arrested were Kucher's son, Roman Kucher, 38, of Lakewood, Ohio; Alexander Litt, 44, of Miami and his uncle, Roman Litt, 63, of Staten Island, N.Y.; and Yakov "Jacob" Shakhanov, 70, of Delray Beach, Fla. All are charged with one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens and three counts of money-laundering conspiracy.

All six are scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 22.

Jason Cato can be reached at jcato@tribweb.com or 412-320-7840.




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